Cycle to Pyramid Valley | Cycling around Bangalore

Cycle to Pyramid Valley

Sunday, 24^th March 2013

Pyramid Valley

Pyramid Valley, the World’s Largest Meditation Pyramid is located around 35 KM south to Bangalore in Kanakapura Road. More to Read

The Ride

It was sunny, it was windy and it was also a steep climb but still it was not enough to defeat the will of the riders in the group where majority of riders are beginners or casual riders. You all are Champs!!!!

Let me start from beginning… when the decision was taken, a tough one, i.e.!!!Cycle to Pyramid Valley!!! When the winter is already gone. Adding to the temperature the dates got postponed twice in order to accommodate more riders… But with all ups and downs in the number of riders, it finally became 12. Kudos to you all folks

At the very first point of the ride description I would like to mention one of the toughest decisions taken. I probably destroyed the ride plan of Anmol to join the group at Jayadeva Flyover (the starting point). He started from Mahadevapura as early as possible for him to meet the start time of 05.15 AM but I was unfortunate enough by not waiting for him. The start time was stringent because all of the free suggestion got from Bikers around lead to one and only fact “Kanakpura road is tough to battle with when it’s sunny”. A Cat-5 climb is what the app “mapmyride” describes the track. So the plan was to start as early as possible to pay respect to the Sun shine which led me to be cruel enough. Now while writing this article I came to know that he is the guy who wants to conquer Nandi Hills with his single speed BSA Mach City.

There also exist an absolutely amazing incident that can be an LOL story but I salute the passion in him. A rider called Prateek posted the message on Saturday 23^rd March on the event page “Oh! In the excitement about this Ride, I got up today very early and reached Jayadeva Flyover, finding no one over there; I called up Deepak and then realized my mistake :(.” I had no words to comment but to like his post. Unfortunately this hero had kept himself busy for the Sunday just because he thought that the ride was scheduled for Saturday. Deepak is the Biker who reached the start point at the dot time to start the Ride without a delay and also among the first 4 finisher as well.

Thanks to Poornima and Ramesh for being at the start point even before I reached. As a host I should have reached there before you. Hope the mighty dogs of Koramangala didn't bother you.

Sailendra, also known as Pin2 was one of the group members, was with a scooter. But by the end of the ride he pleased each and every one of the group with his help and support. The way the riders described him, after the ride, I may not be able to convert his service into words. I asked for his favor before the ride as there were beginners in the group and some of them clearly texted that they are doubtful if they can complete the ride. And to my surprise one of the beginner named Asha finished 4^th to the Valley who had once posted that without a support van she won’t even join the ride. I feel it’s the magic of riding along with company. Most of us agree that riding alone is boring. Am I right?

Right at the konanakunte cross signal the pacemen were waiting for us. Arun and Baiju. They are the Pro Version of a Biker. They have passion to increase the stamina in biking by riding more and more and more and more…..Without any doubt they are the first 2 to hit the destination. Along with them Ahi the entrepreneur cum biker was also there to accompany us. With regular biking, probably he is the fittest guy in 40s I have ever seen. Yes, you are thinking exactly right….Biking can give you a health that you dream even after the age of 40. With a goal to encourage more entrepreneur and business class people into bicycling he is one of the pleasant personality I have met. I forgot to mention that Ahi and Asha are great sports loving couple.

Now let me mention about the real stunner of the ride. While the Hybrids and MTBs were cruising on the declination of Kanakpura road we got the privilege to ride with Sridhar who mesmerized everyone in the group with his single speed Hero cycle. The steel man with a steel frame. Just for the ride he bought this bicycle a day before but his cadence and speed were almost giving a fight to the pro bikers. Practice makes a man perfect. Kanakpura road is his biking track where he bikes till the “Art of living” center almost every day.

The early morning ride till the valley was amazing during which the cyclocomp displayed the highest speed I have ever achieved in my bike. 51.5 km/h. Take care of your bike. Clean it and lube it at regular interval for better performance. I know you all love your bike. Thanks to BOTS for tuning it up for me. I almost drained all my energy in my Last Nandi ride with an over stretched chain and worn out Cassette and blamed myself for the worst performance. They recognized and solved the issue and I could feel the difference the next ride.

Focusing back on the ride and the destination there is nothing much I can write about the Valley. You all are smart enough to Google it and find out that it’s a wonderful place for meditation, Peaceful and green surroundings. We meditated for some time and clicked photographs around the valley and went for breakfast. While having our breakfast another rider Kiran joined us, a friend of Baiju and also a pro biker who started 30-45 minutes after we left konanakunte cross. He was continuously in touch with us over the phone for the route details and finally met us there at the destination. So he raced to the destination alone.wow. Food is tasty especially when you cycle for 35km and hungry.

The return journey started soon after the breakfast was over at around 8.45 AM. It was getting sunny. Now the inclination of the road was waiting for us. Adding to the obstacles it was windy as well. Some of the riders came to 1:1 gear ratio for the first time of their biking life where as Sridhar was always at his higher gear ratio (as he claimed). We took 3-4 breaks in-between the ride to have tender coconut and restore the fluid loss. Pin2 was always around the riders to help out but everyone was passionate enough to complete the track. Easily Poornima wins the “Never Give up” award of the ride. Kiran, Baiju, Arun and Deepak reached Nice road very quickly. Kiran almost waited for 1 hr for all of us to reach Nice road.

I have heard from one of the biker that “One can cope up with pro riders by trying harder and harder but it’s really difficult to cope up with slow riders”. Sincere thanks to the patience of those who waited for as long as 1 hour for their fellow rider. We resumed our ride once everyone reunited and headed to Adiga’s restaurant in Kanakpura road. That is where the end of this wonderful ride was planned.

At the end of the article I would like to say “sorry” for those riders for whom I was cruel and “Thanks” for those who joined the ride and helped the ride to its success. 

-: Avinash